TWO MEN DEOWNED.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 35, 4 September 1884, Page 3

TWO MEN DEOWNED.

[PEB UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION.!

Wellington, Sept. 3

The Waipona river has overflowed its banks near the railway works. There is a heavy flood in town. Mr J. Peterson, an elderly man m charge of Mr Macara's farm at Opaki, was drowned on Tuesday in the Waipoua River, while trying to rescue sheep from flooded land. Later. The Waikawa railway bridge on the Wellington-Masterton line, has beec washed away by heavy floods. It will take at least a month before traffic can be resumed. AH the low-lying land between Woodside and Matarawa is underwater, a landslip has also occurred at Siberia bend, where the Rimutaka accident took place. Masteetok, Sept. 3. Last night's flood washed away the embankment of the Waingaroa railway bridge, suspending traffic, passengers having to be sent by coach. The new railway bridge beyond Masterton station blocked the Waipoua river, and flooded the northern part of the town, doing considerable damage to roads and fences, the bridge itself being destroyed. Communication between Masterton and the north is cut off by the embankment of the Waipoua bridge giving way. There were two feet of water in the town, but when the railway bridge near the station gave way the water subsided rapidly. Several families residing near the rirer were imperilled. It is rumored that the Tenui mailman has been drowned and the police are making inquiries. This Day. The body of Jens Peter Petersen, who was drowned in the flood at Opaki, has been recovered.